Your opinion on Coast Guard?

[alm4rr]

Hi All

I was lookin at the CG if I don't end up in law school. I would go in as an officer after ocs with a master's degree. Anyone serve or know someone that served or basically have information they could relate?

I know that they have tiny budgets vs rest of DOD and have probs with equip. But for serving in military, I find it more gratifying saving lives.

Any thoughts?

ps - i was surprised by their record of medals and involvements in all the conflicts

 

[911paramedic]

I do know, and CG is a great way to go. If you are looking to be busy the CG is the way to go.

It is one of the armed forces so you will get those benefits too. The only thing is you have to be over six feet tall. (just in case your boat sinks and you have to walk back to shore)

Just kidding, it is a good way to go and you will see lots of action. I was in the navy, but dated a CG woman (mmmmmmm....) and they did do quite a bit. I always thought about being a rescue swimmer and wish I joined the CG to do it. (I am a master scuba trainer now, and do train rescue divers though)

 

[alm4rr]

thanx for the info.
btw i saw ur flash movie u posted in other thread - it was entertaining.

anyone else plz feel free to add.........

 

[alm4rr]

bump

 

[Ameesh]

i have a good opinion of them.

 

[TheGameIs21]

U.S. Coast Guard
I am a 6 year U.S.C.G. enlisted member. I was honorably discharged and I would do it again if I had the opportunity. I am more than willing to answer all of your questions to the best of my ability.

In 90, when I was looking to enlist, the Air Force had frozen enlistment and that was the way I wanted to go initially. So I went to the CG recruiter next door to find out more about them.... It's alot like Baywatch but with guns. (yes that was a joke). Check your PM.

 

[ElFenix]

the CG is possibly the most useful service in peace time...

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
the CG is possibly the most useful service in peace time...

...and were actively involved in Vietnam too. My brother in law who was in the CG at the time served well.

 

[Stifko]

I was gonna joint the CG years ago. I found out that their salaries maxed out at like $28K/yr back then. That kind of turned me offa the idea. I have a high opinion of them and think that they do an outstanding job given what they have to deal with.

 

[TheGameIs21]

Just to make clear, the Coast Guards pay is the same as the DOD pay. There are different "max" pays depending on years in service and your current rank. That is all supplemented by various non taxed allowances.

 

[EagleKeeper]

My son is a Coastie.

He has had 4 stations + 4 years of blue water time.
1.5 years left at current assignement, then back to a cutter for another tour.

Currently stationed in Alaska.
Best thing that has happened to him.

 

[alm4rr]

thanx for all the replies - happy to see a lil CG community here in AT

Eaglekeeper, what do you mean by 4 years of blue water time? (oops thats what i get for tryin to remember name off-hand )
TheGameIs21, thanx for the PM and I'll be sure to take up your offer.

Is there much diff between the enlisted and officer aspects of the CG like in the other branches?

I would figure the CG would want to keep me based on land vs going in the water as my education focus was poly sci and public administration. My nautical experiences is pretty much limited to lake kayaking and putterin in a relative's pontoon boat

 

[TheGameIs21]

Difference between Enlisted and Officer....
What are you specifically asking here? Pay is the same. Respect is the same (you get what your rank deserves unless you earn more).....

Keeping on land vs on a boat......
They are a sea going service. You are an Ensign before you are an engineer, educator, poly sci major. That is true of all services. Now, if they need your expertise somewhere, that will be taken into account. Never being an officer, I can only say that I have been told that an Officer who is in for 8 years + will probably have at least one floating (on board a ship) assignment for 2 years. True or not, I don't know.

In regards to Nautical Knowlege, they will teach you what you need to know in OCS or Acadamy (whichever route you take).

Here is another good link you can hit for information from people who are currently in the Coast Guard and those who are out. Freds Place.

 

[alm4rr]

thank you much

as for the differences, i was inquiring about the duties

 

[Desslok]

The Coastsie's have a saying. "You have to go out, you don't have to come back". Have you ever seen film of the training that goes on of ther Washington/Oregon coast? That looks like one hell of a ride.

 

[illusion88]

CG is hard core. I live by the coast and am involved in Search and Rescue. They help us out alot. The guys taht I know are Flight Nurses with Master Dive and a bunch of other certs. They are friggin nuts. They jump out of helicoptors when the waves are at like 30 feet and there is 55kt winds so they can carry up some poor chap in a basket. They are really cool guys. I want their job!

 

[FoBoT]

coasties are cool!! go for it

you can swim, right?

 

[notfred]

The Coast Gaurd rocks. Except when they decide they need to do their resue training right at the best surf spot on a 30 mile stretch of beach. However, they were cool enough to move a few hudred yards down the beach when none of the surfers wanted to get out of the water. Plus, I got to ride on one of thier ships

 

[AvesPKS]

I worked for CG Headquarters in DC last summer and this past summer, so I got to see a little bit of the culture and duties. Someone once said that the other 4 branches of the military practice; the Coast Guard is the only one that does its job every day. While budget problems were a reality (like not being able to run your ships full time), that is all changing with CG's move to DHS. Deepwater is charging ahead, older ships are slowly being retired, and the CG is getting a bigger budget. I'd say it would be a very good opportunity to take advantage of.

 

[TheGameIs21]

Differences between the Navy and Coast Guard officers are a lot different just because the Coast Guard Officer tends to be a jack of all master of none due to the duties. For example....

My scattered memory seems to remember there are about 6000 servicemen onboard the newest Navy AirCraft Carrier. 500 of which are officers doing 150 different jobs. The largest Coast Guard Cutters are the Icebreakers that are 420 Feet long with a crew of 141. 5 of which are officers. Granted, we don't have the airwing of the carriers so that probably cuts both numbers down to just over half. Either way, you get the analogy...

 

[EagleKeeper]

Blue water - Deep Ocean - Alantic/Carribean/Pacific/Bearing Sea, etc.)
vs the shallow water (rivers/lakes/close offshore)

 

[xuanman]

coast guard or law school..sounds like 2 very different choices. you could always go into jag....

 

[Isla]

My opinion on the Coast Guard is that the men are VERY SEXY.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Originally posted by: Isla
My opinion on the Coast Guard is that the men are VERY SEXY.

Have you no shame!!

 

[EagleKeeper]

My opinion on the Coast Guard is that the men are VERY SEXY.

The boy is trying to be intelligent and think.

All you are doing is throwing hormones into the mix.
You have been around here long enough to understand what that causes.:disgust: